Impact Study of K SARAP Mix and Its Effect to Malnourished Children

Susana  A. Salvacion,

Impact Study of K SARAP Mix and Its Effect to Malnourished Children

Abstract:

An experimental study was conducted to come up with sustainable, affordable, nutritious, and palatable menu to help alleviate malnutrition among children in a barangay in Quezon. It aims to create simple dishes from K SARAP MIX composed of roasted and ground rice and monggo and coconut oil. It aimed to measure its effect when served as viand, or snacks to the weight of malnourished children after 4 months of scheduled feeding. It also aimed to do a cost analysis and evaluate the acceptability of these recipes.

An initial weight survey identified 25 malnourished preschool children. The K SARAP MIX was cooked into dishes such as congee, champorado, pancake, balls, crispy dilis, burger patty, camote/banana turon, polvoron, kare-kare, spaghetti, coated fried or chicken, gravy, etc. Feeding was done three times a week during lunch time which lasted for 4 months. The weight was taken monthly and compared with the initial weight. Its use is versatile because it can be an additive to any menu. It can be added to any vegetable or meat for a variation in taste. The mothers were taught how to prepare and cook.

Findings revealed the weight of the participants improved gradually. Seventy two percent (72%) improved from malnourished to normal, one, from severely malnourished to malnourished while 25 % did not improve. Mothers have identified its advantages such as economical, palatable, nutritious, easy to prepare, can be prepared in a variety of ways and appealing to the children.

It is therefore, highly recommendable for supplementary feeding, for personal consumption or for commercial purpose to help improve the nutritional status of children and also to augment the mothers’ income.